Is there any association between overweight, physical activity, fat and fiber intake with functional constipation in adolescents?

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of functional constipation and its association with overweight, physical activity and the estimation of fat and fiber intake in adolescents.

Methods: In all, 386 adolescents aged 14–19 years from the city of Maceió (Alagoas, Northeast Brazil) were included in this study. Participants responded to standardized questionnaires that assessed bowel habits, physical activity and the estimation of fat and dietary fiber intake. Functional constipation was defined according to the Rome criteria. Weight and height were measured using standard methods. Body mass index (BMI) was used to evaluate whether a participant was overweight.

Results: The prevalence of constipation was 24.9%. The median BMI was higher in female adolescents with constipation (22.6) compared with female adolescents without constipation (20.0; p = .001). Physical inactivity (fewer than 300 min of physical activity per week) was more frequent in females (62.7%; 126/201) than in males (42.2%; 78/185; p = .000). No association was observed between physical inactivity and functional constipation. Excessive intake of fat in the diet was found in 45.3% (175/386) of participants, while poor dietary fiber intake was found in 84.2% (325/386) of participants. No association was found between a fat-rich diet and constipation. Low dietary fiber intake was associated with constipation in female adolescents (odds ratio = 3.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.08 and 12.06).

Conclusions: The prevalence of constipation was high among this group of adolescents. Constipation was not associated with physical inactivity but was associated with a low dietary fiber intake and higher BMI values in female adolescents.

Keywords:

• Constipation
• overweight
• physical activity (motor activity)
• dietary fiber
• dietary fats
• adolescent

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the students and administration of the following schools that participated in this study: 1. Alagoas Federal Center for Technological Education, 2. Prof. Margarez Maria Santos Lacet State School, 3. Association of Sisters for Christian Education – Saint Magdalene Sophie School and 4. Elite Educational Society. These schools are located in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

MIPM: study design, data collection, data analysis, writing of manuscript and approval of final manuscript version; MFMA: study design, critical review of manuscript and approval of final manuscript version; ST: study design, critical review of manuscript and approval of final manuscript version; MBM: project supervision, study design, data collection, data analysis, writing of manuscript and approval of final manuscript version.